National Assembly Advocates First-Line Charge for Mining

The National Assembly is pushing for first-line charge status for the solid minerals sector due to a concerning zero capital release for 2025, which has been described as a major setback for Nigeria's economic diversification agenda. Despite an allocation of N865.06 billion for capital expenditure, the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, led by Mr.

Dele Alak, reported no capital disbursements as of January 31, 2026. This situation hampers critical infrastructure and exploration projects, undermining efforts to position mining as a key driver of economic growth and job creation.

Senator Ekong Sampson, chairman of the joint committee on solid minerals development, expressed alarm over the zero capital release, noting that previous interventions had included a N1 trillion allocation to the sector. Alak welcomed proposals for legislative backing to ensure predictable funding and highlighted the ministry's 2026 budget proposal, which includes N1.79 billion for personnel costs and N48.9 billion for capital expenditure, aimed at enhancing revenue generation and formalizing the artisanal mining sector.